Self-inking laminated die plate



United States Patent Albert J. Harvey 9355 Stout St., Detroit, Michigan 48228 [211 App]. No. 688,111

[22] Filed Dec. 5, 1967 [45] Patented Oct. 27, 1970 [72] Inventor [54] SELF-INKING LAMINATED DIE PLATE 17 Claims, 15 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 101/327,

264/132, [01/368 [51] Int. Cl 841131/00 [50] Field ofSearch 101/3,28,

114,163,327,128.2,129,115,150,151, 401.1(partial). 23. 368: 264/94. 132, 299; l8/5(partial), 44

3,277 823 l0/l966 Redding 3,399,424 9/1968 Sheptak ABSTRACT: This specification describes a die plate having a laminated construction. The plate permits the formation of high quality embossed images having both bold and tine lines with precise definition of the edges of the lines without the necessity for using high platen pressures. The steps that are necessary in employing the improved die plate construction of my invention may be carried out with conventional printing presses having either manual or automatic feeds. The improvements of my invention can be used in applying engraved images both to flat surfaces and to irregular or curved surfaces such as labels on curved glass, plastic and metallic containers. The die plate construction includes multiple laminations, each lamination having on one surface thereof an engraved image, and on the other surface thereof apertures such as etched lines which intersect the recesses produced by the engraved image, said lamination being assembled in stacked relationship to form a unitary die plate with the engraved image on one lamination registering with the engraved image on the adjacent lamination.

Patented Get. 27, 1970 Sheet 1 of 6 r l W Ml H EiflO) v .I' I'M I INVENTOR.

ALBERT J; HARVEY AT TOPNEYS Patented Oct. 2L7, 1970 3,536,007

INVENTOR.

ALBERT J. HARVEY ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 27, 1970 3,536,007

Sheet of 6 COLOR5 0F MKS f f 57. 3 INVENTOR.

ALBERT -J. HARVEY ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 27, 1970 Sheet 5 of 6 ATTORNE YS Patented Oct. 27, 1970 Sheet 5 of s INVENTOR. ALBERT J. HARVEY ATTORNEYS 1 SELF-INKING LAMINATED ma PLATE GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION My invention comprises a laminated die plate construction for use in engraving processes. It can be used in an engraving process that includes aplate inking step and a wiping step prior to the positioning of a sheet over the die plate and the application of engraving pressure. It can be used as well, however, with self-inking die plate holders that do not require the use of an extraneous inking and wiping action as ink is supplied to the engraved recesses on the plate.

My die plate is formed with multiple laminations, one side of each lamination having formed therein, such as by an etching process, the relief grooves and lines that develop the engraved image on the sheet or other article to be engraved. The opposite side of each of the laminations is formed with etched lines having a depth that is less than the thickness of the laminations themselves. The lines are of sufficient depth, however, to intersect the relief on the opposite side of the lamination.

The laminations are situated in stacked, registered relationship so that the base of one relief will form a flexible membrane that extends over the corresponding relief of the adjacent lamination.

The laminations themselves are positioned on a counterblock or base. An engraving pressure pad is applied to the sheet or other article as it is impressed on the die plate. The membranes deflect under a relatively reduced pressure as the article contacts the base of the various relief grooves and lines. This avoids the so-called balding or fading out condition that is associated with conventional die plates having wide or bold lines.

The development of a die plate capable of developing high quality images with both bold and fine lines is a principal object of my invention. According to another feature of my invention, an image can be embossed on a surface without the need for using the high pressures normally associated with engraving processes. An effective seal at the margins of the relief grooves and lines on the surface of the die plate constructions remains effective notwithstanding the relatively reduced pressure applied by the platen or pressure pad to the article to be engraved.

When the laminated die plate of my invention is mounted g on a self-inking die holder, the deflection of the membrances at the base of the relief grooves in the die plate laminations causes a flow of ink from a reservoir for the die plate holder through the etched lines on the reverse side of the laminations. These lines in turn communicate with the relief grooves and lines. Automatic feeding of ink then can be provided to the uppermost relief groove during the repeated formation of the engraved image.

In one embodiment of my invention, the die plate can be mounted in and form a part of a two-part mold for forming plastic articles such as bottles. It can be used also in axiallyseparable die holders which surround and engage three dimensional articles, such as glass bottles and other rigid containers, thereby permitting direct engraving of labels.

The seal provided between the surface grooves and lines permits the use of multiple colors during the engraving process without intermixing the colors.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows a conventional printing press that is adapted to use the improved engraving die plate of my invention.

FIG. 2 is a conventional movable platen printing press which also is adapted to use the improved engraving die plate of my invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic view of an assembly line for engraving labels on glass milk bottles wherein the engraving head is adapted to include on its internal surface an engraving die plate embodying the improvements of my invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the engraving head shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 shows in longitudinal cross-sectional form a self-inking die holder for the die plate of my invention.

FIG. 6 shows in longitudinal schematic cross-sectional form a self-inking die plate holder that is adapted for multiple colors and which is capable of using the improved die plate of my invention.

FIG. 7 shows in cross-sectional form a die plate embodying the improvements of my invention: The plate includes locating grooves for properly registering the engraved sheet on the die plate.

FIG. 8 shows an article or sheet positioned on the die plate construction of F IG'. 7 with the embossed surface of the article registering with the grooves on the plate.

FIG. 9 shows another form of my invention which includes a resilient surface coatingand a resilient pad at the base of the die plate. The embodiment of FIG. 9 is adapted to be inked on the upper surface after being charged.

FIG. 10 shows in cross-sectional form a die plate of the type illustrated inFIG. 8, which is adapted to be used with an article having an irregular surface.

FIG. '11 shows a die plate for forming an image having both bold and fine lines. The plate uses a porous pressure pad.

FIG. 12 shows a die plate for engraving an image on a deformable article of irregular shape and which is provided with a relatively stationary support pad.

FIG. 13 shows an engraving plate having a cellular support pad and recessed grooves of varying widths for forming an image.

FIG. I4 shows an engraving plate embodying the features of my invention and which is provided with a curved contour for forming engraving images on curved articles.

FIG. I5 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 14 showing a deformable article of irregular shape registering with the upper surface of the die plate.

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In FIG. I, I have shown a conventional printing press which may be adapted to accommodate the die holder and die plate of my invention. It includes a stationary base 10 which can be bolted to the floor. Supported by the base 10 is a pedestal 12 which carries a die holder I4. A die plate I6 is supported by the holder 14, and a sheet or other article to be printed rests on the die plate 16 as shown at I8. A movable platen 20 carried by a press member 22 registers with the upper surface of the article 18. Its vertical position with respect to the die plate 16 can be controlled in a conventional fashion by adjusting screw 24.

The platen 20 can be reciprocated in a vertical direction by side arms 24 and 26 connected at one end to the movable member 22. It can be reciprocated by a conventional drive motor, not shown, as it is guided in side members 28 supported by the base 10. If desired, a conventional platen press with an automatic feed can be used with my improved die plate. Such a press is shown, for example, in FIG. 2. It includes a fixed platen 30.

The die plate of my invention is shown at 32 in FIG. 2. A movable platen 34 carried by the oscillating arm 36 engages the sheets or articles that are fed to the press and presses them against the plate 32. The articles are transferred from the storage zone 38' to the printing position in the usual fashion as the arm 36 is reciprocated by the bell-crank drive 40 and the drum 42.

In FIG. 4, I have shown a mold for forming plastic bottles. It comprises a pair of mold parts 44 and 46, which can be reciprocated in the direction of the arrows 48 and 50 respectively. The mold parts 44 and 46 are formed with mold cavities 52 and 54 which cooperate to define a cavity of the shape of the bottle 56. After the latter is formed, the die parts are joined for registry on the abutting die surfaces 58 and 60.

The bottle holder 62 grips the neck 64 of the plastic workpiece from which the bottle 56 is formed. A hydrostatic fluid or air conduit 66 passes through the holder 62 and functions to distribute hydrostatic pressure to the interior of the plastic workpiece after the die parts 44 and 46 are brought into registry. As this is done, the bottle 56, during its formation, will exert pressure on the surface 68 of die plate 70. This die plate is carried by die holder 72, which is received within a recess 74 formed in the die member 46. The die holder 72 includes an ink supply passage 76 which may communicate with an ink reservoir 78.

As the plastic bottle 56 is formed, the hydrostatic pressure acting on the plastic wall of the bottle will activate the die plate 70 to form a printed image on the outer surface of the bottle. This environment, as shown in FIG. 4, is in addition to the environment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 for utilizing the improved die plate of my invention.

Still another embodiment capable of using my improved die plate is shown in FIG. 3. A glass bottle, such as a common milk bottle, is shown at 80 in FIG. 3. One side of the bottle is brought into registry with die plate 82 held by die plate holder 84. Multiple ink supply passages, one passage being used for each of the colors, are shown at 86, 88 and 90. These communicate with separate reservoirs of the type shown at 78 in FIG. 4.

The labeling dies of the FIG. 3 construction are shown at 92 and 94. These are formed in two parts, each part being movable so that their juxtaposed surfaces can be brought into registry. When this is done, the die cavities, one of which is shown at 96, receive the bottle 80. The direction of motion of the dies is designated by the directional arrows 98.

The die plate and die plate holder of my invention can be received within a cooperating recess formed in the die members 92 and 94. Ink in different colors can be supplied through separate passages 100, 102 and 104 for die members 96. Corresponding ink passages 106, 108 and 110 are provided for the die member 94. In addition an air pressure passage 112 may communicate with the die member 94 and with the outer surface of the die plate holder so that the die plate itself will be subjected to hydrostatic pressure thus forcing it into engagement with the surface of the bottle 80.

In FIG. 5, l have shown in schematic cross-sectional form a guide plate and prestressed self-inking die holder capable of being used, for example, with the separable mold dies shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. When the die plate holder of FIG. is used as suggested in the preceding paragraph in the construction of FIG. 3, the air pressure admitted to the die member 94 would be conducted by means of an internal passage, not shown, to the surface of the die plate holder corresponding to the lower surface of the base 114, shown in FIG. 5. This would urge the die plate holder and the die plate itself into engagement with the material to be engaged. Numeral 114 in FIG. 5 represents a base, and numerals 116 and 118 represent a resilient mat made of a yieldable material such as rubber. An upper plate 120, which is formed with an internal cavity 122, rests upon the mat 116 and is secured firmly to the base 114 by suitable fastening means such as bolts 124. The wall of the cavity 122 registers with and is piloted on a pilot surface 126 formed on the base 114. The holder member 120 cooperates with the base 114 to define a chamber which is in fluid communication with an ink reservoir 128 through ink supply passage 130. A one-way check valve 132 accommodates the flow of ink from the reservoir 128 to the interior cavity although flow in the opposite direction is prevented by the valve 132. A second reservoir or accumulator 134 may be formed in the plate member 120. This reservoir is in fluid communication with the interior cavity through valve control passage 136. One-way check valve 138 allows transfer of fluid from the chamber 134to the interior cavity as the yieldable mats 116 and 118 expand following the application of pressure to the die plates.

The die plate is shown at 140 in FIG. 5. It rests upon an apertured central platform 142 for the holder member 120. The article to be printed is shown at 144. Its outer surface engages the die plate 140 as air pressure is admitted to the interior of the article.

The pressure exerted by the article on the die plate causes the holder 120 to yield, thereby decreasing the volume in the ink cavity. The ink then flows through the apertures in the central region 142 and through etched lines in the die plate 140. These lines communicate with the etched recesses 142 in the die plate, which define the lettering or other image.

As the pressure is relieved, the volume of the central cavity increases, thereby allowing ink to be distributed through the valve control passages and 136.

In FIG. 13, I have shown a typical die plate in cross-sectional form. The die plate itself comprises multiple laminations 146, I48, and 152. Other numbers of lamination can be used depending on the width of the lettering and the pressures that are used. The lowermost lamination 152 rests'upon a resilient pad 154. In some cases this may be made porous to permit a continuous feed of ink therethrough from a suitable ink supply source.

Each of the laminations that make up the plate is formed with etched recesses 156 on the upper surface. These recesses define the lettering or other image that is to be impressed upon the engraved article. The lower surfaces of the laminations are formed with recessed lines of prescribed depth. The depth is chosen so that the lines substantially cover one side of each lamination and intersect the character recesses of the type shown at 156.

Each lamination is similar in form to its companion lamination. The recessed lines on the reverse side of lamination 148, by preference, run in a direction diagonally opposite to the direction of the recessed lines 158. The recessed lines for lamination 148 are identified by reference character 160. Like the recessed lines 158, recessed lines 160 intersect the character recess 162 which is situated in registry with the recess 156. The arrangement of the character recesses and the recessed lines for the various laminations is repeated. The lowermost lamination 152 has its recessed lines 164 in registry with the support pad 154. Ink may be distributed through the pad and through the recessed lines thereby feeding ink to the character recess on the opposite side. This in turn communicates with the recess line for the lamination 150, thus providing ink distribution to the character recess for the lamination 150 and hence to the recessed lines 160. The ink progresses through the die plate in this fashion until an adequate supply of ink is distributed to the recess 156, where it can be transferred to the article to be engraved.

In one successful embodiment, the laminations themselves may be .025" to .100". The base of the character recesses, which define flexible membranes, may be as thin as .00l". The recesses may be arranged to provide either extremely bold lettering or fine lettering. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 13, the width of the recess may vary from one extreme to the other.

The initial pressure applied to the plate creates a seal between the sheet or article to be printed, thereby establishing a precise delineation between the printed area of the image and the unprinted area.

In operation, the die plate and the pad can be charged with ink by filling the die plate and the character recesses from the top and saturating the pad. Following this priming operation, no further external feeding of ink is required. The pad itself can be used as the ink source to replace the ink as it is used.

It is possible with this arrangement to provide a heavier deposit of ink than would be possible with conventional die plates. This is due in part to the improved sealing that occurs between the edges of the character recesses and the sheet or other article being engraved. Further, the sheet or article, at the region of the relatively wide section of the character recesses will not contact the flexible diaphragm at the base of the character recess with sufficient pressure to cause balding of the image or lettering. The flexibility of the diaphragm section of the character recesses in the die plate lamination will permit yielding and avoid a pressure build-up between the sheet or article being engraved and the die plate. An adequate sealing pressure, however, is maintained at the margins of the character recesses.

The pressure that exists between the sheet or article being engraved and the base of the die plate laminations in the region of the character recesses is not sufficient to cause a pattern to be transferred to the article. That is, the etched grooves or lines on the undersides of each of the laminations will not cause a lined pattern to appear at the bold regions of the engraved characters as ink is transferred through the grooves to the character recesses.

In the die plate and holder of FIG. 4, the die plate is prestressed as it is in the case of FIG. 5. In forming the engraved image on the bottle or other container in FIG. 4, the engraving step follows the molding step. -T he plastic container 56 indicated in FIG. 4, or the glass bottle 80 in the case of FIG. 3, then will avoid distortion during the engraving step.

It is possible in using a die of the type shown in FIG. 13, to use reduced pressures. In this respect my process differs from conventional engraving processes where relatively high engraving pressures are required. It might be possible, for example, to cut back the pressure applied the presses of FIGS. 1 or 2 to approximately 100 p.s.i. while still maintaining an effective edge seal on the character recesses.

In FIG. 9 there is shown a die plate 166 having multiple laminations 168, 170 and 172. They may be mounted on a resilient nonporous pad. In such cases the plate is inked by passing an ink roller over the upper surface of the plate after the plate is charged initially. Of course, the plate 166 can also be charged by supplying ink from the underside. In such case the pad identified by character 174 will be made porous as in the case of FIG. 13.

In FIG. 9 character recesses of different widths and depths are shown. The broad character recess 176 can be supplied with ink independently of the relatively narrow character recess 178.

In the FIG. 9 embodiment, the upper surface of the lamination 168 is provided with a resilient plastic coating 180. This can be used to provide improved sealing if the engraved article or sheet is coarse. It is not necessary to increase substantially the engraving pressure. If this added sealing characteristic is not required, however, the coating is not needed.

In FIG. 10 a die plate 166', which is similar to the one shown at 166 in FIG. 9, is used in engraving a rigid article shown at 182. Although the article does not become deformed under the engraving pressure in the region of the character recesses, an effective image nonetheless can be formed on it. An effective seal on the edge of the character recesses still may be maintained.

In FIGS. 11 and 12 I have shown die plates similar to the one shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 although they are not provided with a surface coating for the upper lamination 168" such as that shown at 180 in FIG. 9. In FIG. 11, I have shown the two lowermost laminations 172" and 170" in inverted relationship with respect to the positions shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. For example, in FIGS. 9 and 10 the diaphragm section at the base of the character recesses in each case is at the upper side of the die plate lamination. This may be done at the base of the stack of laminations to improve the ink transfer characteristics and the quality of the image. The character recess of the lowermost lamination in such case permits deformation of the pad into the interior of the adjacent character recesses. This provides pumping action as ink is transferred from the pad through the laminations.

In FIG. 14 I have shown a curved die plate and a curved support pad. The pad is identified by reference character 184 and the die plate itself is shown at 186. It includes stacked laminations 188, 190 and 192. The sheet or article to be printed is applied in the usual way to the upper surface of the lamination 188 and pressure is applied as before. The pad 184 can be either cellular and self-inking or resilient and nonporous. In the latter case the die would be fed with ink after being charged on the upper surface. In the former case the pad, rather than the die, would be primed.

The'effective sealing action that is possible with my improved die plate makes practical the use of multiple colors simultaneously during the engraving process. This merely requires the use of a special die holder and ink reservoir, schematically illustrated in FIG. 6, The holder 194 in FIG. 6 includes two ink reservoirs shown at 196 and 198. These communicate with separate ink supply passages 200 and 202, respectively. No intermixing of the colors will occur because of the sealing action that exists between the surface of the engraved article 204 and the upper surface 206 of the upper lamination of the die plate. The recessed lines at the base of the laminations in this case are formed in separate color regions. The recessed lines of one region do not communicate with the corresponding lines of another region.

FIG. 7 shows a die plate 208 having an upper lamination 210 formed with locating grooves or recesses 212. These recesses are not formed deep enough to communicate with the etched grooves or lines on the undersides of the laminations. Such a die plate is useful when the article to be engraved is pre-embossed or when it has engraved printing on it before it is fed to the instant die plate. The pre-embossed surface of the article, as shown at 216, registers with the concavities or grooves 212. I

The pad 218 of the FIG. 7 plate is cellular and the pad 220 of the plate of FIG. 8 is resilient and nonporous. Either pad, however, can be used with either plate.

FIG. 15 shows the mode of cooperation of the surface of a sheet or article 222 with'a die plate of the type shown at 186 in FIG. 14. The engraved surface of the article or sheet 222 forms an embossment as it is depressed into the character recess of the upper lamination 188 of the die 186.

FIG. 12 shows still another variation of the die plate of FIG. 14. It may be used in forming engraved images on a flat, nondeformable article 224. In this case the die plate 226 is flat as it is in the case of FIG. 13, for example, rather than curved as in FIG. 14. In other respects, the die plate of FIG. 12 is similar to that shown in FIGS. 14 and 15. Like the die plate of FIG. 9, die plate 226 can be formed with both bold character recesses 228 and fine character recesses 230.

The improved engraving die of my invention can be used also in forming printed electrical circuits by using electrically conducted ink and by forming the upper laminations ofthe die plate with the desired circuitry configuration.

I claim:

I. A die plate adapted for use in printing images on the surface of an article comprising a stacked series of die plate laminations forming a unitary assembly, each of said laminations having formed on one surface thereof character recesses, ink flow inducing apertures formed on the other surface of said laminations extending partly through the thickness of the laminations and intersecting the character recesses, and a support for said laminations, said one surface of the first lamination of said series-being adapted to engage said article as the other surface of the last lamination of said series engages said support, the character recesses in each lamination having corresponding character recesses in an adjacent lamination, the character recesses in adjacent laminations being substantially alike and substantially in registry with each other.

2. The combination, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said character recesses are formed on said one surface of each lamination and said apertures are in the form of multiple grooves in the other surface of each lamination, said grooves being of a depth that is less than the thickness of its associated lamination, said grooves extending in a preselected pattern over a substantial area corresponding to the area occupied by the character recesses.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein a character recess formed on one surface of each lamination is of adepth that is less than the thickness of the lamination and less than the maximum width of said character recess, thereby defining at the base of said character recess a relatively thin flexible membrane that is yieldable as pressure applied to said article causes the article to become depressed into said recess and to engage the base surface of said recess;

4. The combination as set forth in claim 2, wherein a character recess formed on one surface of each lamination is of a depth that is less than the thickness of the lamination and less than the maximum width of said character recess, thereby defining at the base of said character recess a relatively thin flexible membrane that is yieldable as pressure applied to said article causes the article to become depressed into said recess and to engage the base surface of said recess.

5. The combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein said support comprises a porous pad impregnated with engraving ink, said apertures, in cooperation with the character recesses in said laminations, defining a continuous ink flow path from said pad to the surface of the lamination that is engaged by said article.

6. The combination as set forth in claim 2, wherein said support comprises a porous pad impregnated with engraving ink, said apertures, in cooperation with the character recesses in said laminations, defining a continuous ink flow path from said pad to the surface of the lamination that is engaged by said article.

7. The combination as set forth in claim 3, wherein said support comprises a porous pad impregnated with engraving ink. said apertures, in cooperation with the character recesses in said laminations, defining a continuous ink flow path from said pad to the surface of the lamination that is engaged by said article,

8. The combination as set forth in claim 4, wherein said support comprises a porous pad impregnated with engraving ink, said apertures, in cooperation with the character recesses in said laminations, defining a continuous ink flow path from said pad to the surface of the lamination that is engaged by said article.

9. The combination as set forth in claim 2, wherein the surface of the lamination that is engaged by said article is charac terized by a resilient coating thereby establishing an effective seal at the margin of the character recesses on said lamination surface.

10. The combination as set forth in claim 3, wherein the surface of the lamination that is engaged by said article is characterized by a resilient coating thereby establishing an effective seal at the margin of the character recesses on said lamination surface.

11. The combination as set forth in claim 4, wherein the surface of the lamination that is engaged by said article is characterized by a resilient coating thereby establishing an effective seal at the margin of the character recesses on said lamination surface 12. The combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein said one surface of said first die plate lamination is characterized further by a concavity ofa depth less than the thickness ofsaid first lamination, said concavity being isolated from said apertures on the opposite sideof said first lamination and being adapted to register with an embossment on the surface of said printed article.

13. The combination as set forth in claim 2, wherein said one surface of said first die plate lamination is characterized further by a concavity of a depth less than the thickness of said first lamination, said concavity being isolated from said apertures 0n the opposite side of said first lamination and being adapted to register with an embossment on the surface of said printed article.

14. The combination as set forth in claim 3, wherein said one surface of said first die plate lamination is characterized further by a concavity. of a depth less than the thickness of said first lamination, said .concavity being isolated from the ink flow inducing apertures on the opposite side of said first lamination and being adapted to register with an embossment on the surface of said printed article.

15. The combination as set forth in claim 4, wherein said one surface of said first die plate lamination is characterized further by a concavity of a depth less than the thickness of said first lamination, said concavity being isolated from the ink flow inducing apertures on the opposite side of said first lamination and being adapted to register with an embossment on the surface of said printed article.

16. The combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein the surface of the lamination that is engaged by said article is characterized by a resilient coating thereby establishing an effective seal at the margin of the character recesses on said lamination surface.

17. A die plate assembly on the surface of an article adapted for use in printing images comprising a stacked series of die plate laminations,, a first of said stacked series of laminations forming one surface of said assembly and the last of said stacked series of laminations forming an opposed surface of said assembly, each of said laminations having formed on one surface thereof character recesses, apertures formed on the other surface of each of said laminations extending partly through the thickness of the laminations and intersecting the character recesses, a support pad for said laminations, said article engaging said one surface of said assembly as the opposed surface of said assembly engages said pad, a die base supporting said pad, a first mold element receiving said base, a second companion mold element registering with said first mold element to define a mold cavity, said mold cavity receiving said article, said article being adapted to apply a printing pressure on said one surface of said first die plate lamination as the last lamination of said series engages said pad, and means for supplying a flow of ink through said pad to said die plate laminations, said mold elements being relatively movable to provide entry and discharge of the article being printed, said die plate laminations forming a unitary assembly, the character recesses in adjacent laminations being substantially alike and substantially in registry.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3, 536. 007 Dated October 27, 1970 Inventor(s) Albert J. Harvey It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Abstract, line 16, "lamination" should be laminations Column 1, line 44, "membrances" should be membranes Column 3, line 49, "engaged" should be engraved SiGNED 'AND JAN 5 19 6 Amen Edma Ma mfltdlu. I m I. m Re Mug Officer flo-illiom of Patents FORM PO-OSO (IO-69) -pc 503754559 I v.5. aovnrmuv nmmuc omct nu o-au-au 

